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Lincoln County to consider sponsoring FEMA BRIC application for underground electric feeder
Summary
Link Electric presented a FEMA BRIC (BRIC 2.0) proposal to underground a feeder to reduce outages; the company asked the county to sponsor the application, assign FEMA GO access and coordinate with state DEES and EMA. Preliminary estimated cost cited: about $4 million.
Link Electric asked the Lincoln County Commissioners on May 20 to sponsor a FEMA BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grant application to underground a troubled feeder line that staff say is repeatedly outaged by falling trees and snow.
Jacob Dong, who identified himself as communications manager at Link Electric, said the project would underground the “J feeder” from the highway through mixed federal and private land and that undergrounding would lower wildfire risk, improve reliability and support emergency response. Dong said the initial, preliminary project estimate is about $4 million, cautioned the figure may change as bids are finalized, and said FEMA typically funds BRIC projects on a 90/10 cost-share basis (county/cooperator would be subrecipient through the county applicant). He asked the county to confirm willingness to sponsor the application and to assign a county contact to set up FEMA GO access so the application can proceed with DEES/EMA support.
Commissioners and staff discussed the likely need to coordinate with Emergency Management (EMA) and DEES, indicated Boyd White or the EMA office would be a likely staff contact, and noted the construction earliest realistic start would be after award and in 2027 given usual federal schedules and local construction cycles.
Why it matters: Undergrounding high-outage feeders can reduce the frequency of outages caused by falling trees and extreme weather and can be eligible for BRIC mitigation funding. The preliminary $4 million estimate and a possible 90/10 funding split make this a significant infrastructure application that would require county sponsorship and coordination.
What’s next: Link Electric will provide contact information and updated cost estimates; county staff will coordinate contact assignment (EMA/DEES) and consider whether to place a sponsorship item on a future agenda for formal authorization.
